U.S. patent application number 09/940861 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for sun shield for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Muller, Hermann-Frank.
Application Number | 20020066539 09/940861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26006832 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muller, Hermann-Frank |
June 6, 2002 |
Sun shield for vehicles
Abstract
A sun shield, having disengageable swivel bearing, rollable and
flexible solar modules on a support material made of scrim tissue
or taffeta with layer material to form a laminate, organic (OLED)
or polymer (PLED) luminous diodes, has a small cross section in
which for an enlargement of the solar surface the support material
with thin-layer elements is arranged to be extended and retracted
from the sun shield. A component which can be snapped in the
opening on the back of the sun shield can be disengaged and used as
a flashlight outside the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Muller, Hermann-Frank;
(Bonn, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gudrun E. Huckett, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 3187
Albuquerque
NM
87190-3187
US
|
Family ID: |
26006832 |
Appl. No.: |
09/940861 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/370.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21W 2106/00 20180101;
B60Q 3/59 20170201; B60Q 3/252 20170201; F21S 9/037 20130101; F21L
2/00 20130101; B60J 3/0204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/370.22 |
International
Class: |
B60J 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2000 |
DE |
100 42 110 |
Nov 13, 2000 |
DE |
100 56 106 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Sun shield for vehicles, having a disengageable swivel bearing
arranged in the upper longitudinal edge as well an opening for
installation of at least one planar component within the sun
shield, that when folded down points inward, solar modules, at
least one energy storage to be charged by the solar modules as well
as a plug junction for transmitting stored energy to an energy
consumer and/or transmission to the vehicle's energy storage,
wherein a roller (6) is placed within the sun shield (1), several
rollable thin-layer elements (7a) are affixed to a support material
(7) with different functions such as solar cells for energy
generating, as energy storage and as energy consumer (5b), wherein
the thin-layer elements (7a) can be extended and retracted from the
roller (6).
2. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the
support material (7;7') is connected at both its longitudinal sides
with the free end of a telescopic guide rail (8) whose end--which
is not extendable--is fixed to the inner wall of the sun shield
(1).
3. Sun shield according to claim 2, wherein the guide rail (8) for
extending and retracting the support material 7;7') is designed to
be operated manually, electrically or pneumatically or
hydraulically.
4. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein the solar modules have
monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar cells.
5. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein the support material
(7) for the solar cells is made of scrim tissue or taffeta
which--with layers applied on both sides--forms a laminate.
6. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein the planar component
placed in the opening (3) of the sun shield (1) is a cosmetic
mirror and/or a screen.
7. Sun shield according to claim 6, wherein one component unit (5)
consists of a planar component (4), rollable solar cells, rollable
energy storage as well as organic (OLED) and/or polymer (PLED)
luminous diodes (5a), which are enclosed with a frame (5a) which is
arranged in the sun shield and can be snapped in and
disengaged.
8. Sun shield according to claim 7, wherein the organic and/or
polymer luminous diodes (5a) are rollable and/or switchable.
9. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein rollable micro
miniature batteries or rollable thin-film batteries are used.
10. Sun shield according to 1, wherein at least one collective
storage is used for storing the complete energy generated in the
solar cells.
11. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein the energy
transmission lines are arranged within the sun shield lid (5c) from
the solar module via the energy storage to the plug junction
(9).
12. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein the interior of the
sun shield (1) is supplied with an anti-static cleaning bar,
wherein the support material (7; 7') with thin-layer elements (7a)
is pulled through the anti-static cleaning bar when extending and
retracting.
13. Sun shield according to claim 1, wherein a lamellar diaphragm
fuel cell supplies the energy storage with electricity.
14. Sun shield for vehicles, having in the upper longitudinal edge
a disengageable swivel bearing as well an opening for installation
of at least one planar component within the sun shield, that, when
folded down points inward, solar modules, at least one energy
storage to be charged by the solar modules as well as a plug
junction for transmitting stored energy to a energy consumer and/or
transmission to the vehicle's energy storage, wherein within the
sun shield (1)--on an extendable lamellar support material
(7')--several rollable thin-layer elements (7a) are arranged with
different functions such as solar cells for energy generating, as
energy storage and as energy consumer (5b).
15. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the free end of the
support material (7;7') is connected at both its longitudinal sides
with the free end of a telescopic guide rail (8) whose end--which
is not extendable--is fixed to the inner wall of the sun shield
(1).
16. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the guide rail (8)
for extending and retracting the support material (7;7') is
designed to be operated manually, electrically or pneumatically or
hydraulically.
17. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the solar modules
have monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar cells.
18. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the support material
(7) for the solar cells is made of scrim tissue or taffeta
which--with layers applied on both sides--forms a laminate.
19. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the planar component
placed in the opening (3) of the sun shield (1) is a cosmetic
mirror and/or a screen.
20. Sun shield according to claim 19, wherein one component unit
(5) consists of a planar component (4), rollable solar cells,
rollable energy storage as well as organic (OLED) and/or polymer
(PLED) luminous diodes (5a), which are enclosed with a frame (5a)
which is arranged in the sun shield and can be snapped in and
disengaged.
21. Sun shield according to claim 20, wherein the organic and/or
polymer luminous diodes (5a) are rollable and/or switchable.
22. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein rollable micro
miniature batteries or rollable thin-film batteries are used.
23. Sun shield according to 14, wherein at least one collective
storage is used for storing the complete energy generated in the
solar cells.
24. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the energy
transmission lines are arranged within the sun shield lid (5c) from
the solar module via the energy storage to the plug junction
(9).
25. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein the interior of the
sun shield (1) is supplied with an anti-static cleaning bar,
wherein the support material (7; 7') with thin-layer elements (7a)
is pulled through the anti-static cleaning bar when extending and
retracting.
26. Sun shield according to claim 14, wherein a lamellar diaphragm
fuel cell supplies the energy storage with electricity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention refers to removable sun shields with solar
modules to convert impinging light into electrical energy.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Such solar modules are described in DE 40 03 399 C2 and DE
198 55 258 A1. Solar modules which are applied to glass may cause
additional injuries for vehicle occupants in case of a front-end
collision. Gratings made of plastic for installing foam material
for upholstery as well as flat component parts such as cosmetic
mirrors and LEDs and/or LCDs for illumination make the sun shield
relatively thick.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, it is the invention's objective to suggest a sun
shield which--in addition to the already described utilization--is
made slender even on the outside of the vehicle with a design which
is optionally adjustable. The removable illuminated cosmetic mirror
or the like can also be used as a flashlight for even a longer time
period with the assistance of one solar cell. Furthermore, possible
injuries in case of front-end collisions should be diminished.
[0006] To solve this task, a roller (6) is placed within the sun
shield (1), several rollable thin-layer elements (7a) are affixed
to a support material (7) with different functions such as solar
cells for energy generating, as energy storage and as energy
consumer (5b), and the thin-layer elements (7a) can be extended and
retracted from the roller (6).
[0007] In an alternative, within the sun shield (1)--on an
extendable lamellar support material (7')--several rollable
thin-layer elements (7a) are arranged with different functions such
as solar cells for energy generating, as energy storage and as
energy consumer (5b).
[0008] Advantageous further developments the invention are
described in the following with the aid of the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The following drawings show the configuration of the
invention, without confining the configuration to the shown
embodiments. It is shown in:
[0010] FIG. 1: a cross-sectional view of a sun shield with support
material with thin-layer elements applied rolled up onto a
roller;
[0011] FIG. 2: a cross-sectional view of a sun shield with lamellar
support material with one-sided thin-layer elements applied;
[0012] FIG. 3: support material with one-sided thin-layer elements
applied--not to scale.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The inventive sun shield (1)--according to FIG. 1--shows (as
known from DE 4003 399 C2) a bar (2) at its upper longitudinal
edge. The sun shield is swivelling around that bar (2) and is
snapped into the vehicle ceiling at its bended end. Naturally, in
this connection constructively altered swivel-and-snap-in variants
are possible.
[0014] The sun shield--according to DE 40 03 399 C2--shows on its
back side facing the vehicle interior an opening for installing
batteries for storage of energy gained from the solar cells. The
further development--according to DE 198 55 258 A1--refers to
assign a planar component part for that opening such as an
illuminated cosmetic mirror with a removable frame which can be
used as a component unit together with integrated solar modules,
battery(ies) and mini lamps on the vehicle exterior. The mirror can
be used as a flashlight if necessary. This further developed sun
shield consists of--in contrast to a sun shield according to U.S.
Pat. No. 6,012,757--two housing parts, for example, connected with
another with a snap lock in order to be able to exchange the
existing component parts in the sun shield if necessary. All these
described sun shields show a relatively thick sectional area. To
reduce this cross-section a roller (6) is placed in the inventive
sun shield (1) on which on a support material (7) a larger number
of rollable thin-layer elements (7a) are arranged which can be
extended and retracted. These thin-layer elements (7) serve as
solar cells for energy generation, for energy storage and if
necessary as energy consumer. Thereby, it is left to the artisan in
which way the various thin-layer elements (7a) are arranged, for
example if they are arranged side-by-side or piled up in layers (as
laminate) since it also depends on whether the sun shield (1)
should generate more energy (for immediate consumption) or if it
should store more energy for consumption outside the vehicle.
[0015] The extension and retraction of the support material (7)
with the thin-layer elements (7a)onto the roller (6) can be
performed mechanically in the described way via pull cords.
Especially for an electrical or a hydraulic, e.g. pneumatic,
operation which can also be performed automatically or in
intervals, the support material (7) with thin-layer elements (7a)
is connected at its both longitudinal sides with a telescopic guide
rail (8), of which each single rail part (8a) is coupled with the
respective integrated part of the support material (7a) (laminate).
Over at least one lateral projecting stop pin (8b) or a similar
stop which is inserted in an interior slot of the encased adjacent
rail part (8a) it is prevented that individual rail parts (8a)
separate from another wherein this stop pin (8b) arrives at the
stop which ends the notch picking up the adjacent rail part (8).
The number of rail parts (8a) depend on the desired end length of
the support material (7) with thin-layer elements (7a) If the
roller (6) is sufficiently fixed outside the opening (3) provided
for the frame (5a) of the removable cosmetic mirror (4) or the like
and the support material (7) with thin-layer elements is fixed to
the roller (6) and practically does not use up much space within
the sun shield (1), the thickness of the sun shield is limited to
the depth of the required space for the frame (5a) of the cosmetic
mirror (4). The sun shield may receive an upholstery made, for
example, of foam material or another material to reduce the risk of
injury of the vehicle occupants in case of a front-end collision.
This is in case the space is not used for the cosmetic mirror frame
(5a) as well as for the roller (6), eventually for its driving
motor and a pump (if not enough space within the roller) and the
support material (7) with thin-layer elements (7a) and its guide
rail (8). If not used for other purposes the space can be used for
an anti-static cleaning bar (not shown) diagonal to the material
support material (7) with the thin-layer elements (7a). When
extending and retracting it serves for cleaning purposes.
Furthermore, the production of an "additional sun shield" which is
connected with the sun shield according to DE 40 03 399 C2 is not
necessary and its size--in contrast to the inventive sun shield
with support material (7) and thin-layer elements (7a)--remains
invariable.
[0016] Instead of extending and retracting the support material (7)
with thin-layer elements (7a) from the roller, it is possible--as
shown in FIG. 2--to arrange the support material (7) with
thin-layer elements (7a) lamellar within the sun shield (1),
wherein the assigned space for the roller 6 for the lamellar
support material (7') with thin-layer elements joined together with
little space in between is provided. Even in this case, the
telescopic guide rails (8) perfectly secure--to both longitudinal
sides of the support material (7) with thin-layer elements
(7a)--the respective position in the same way as if using the
roller (6). Instead of using glass for support material (7') for
the lamellar configuration, a glass-like plastic or a plastic
tissue can be used onto which the thin-layer elements are fixed and
can be laminated onto the back side if necessary.
[0017] Newly developed thin-layer solar modules with
monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar cells are selected for
thin-layer elements (7a) for utilization within the sun shield. For
example, a soft and flexible, non-woven scrim-tissue made of
polyester or taffeta, a light tissue for laminate, can be used as a
support material (7). If necessary, rechargeable lithium thin-film
batteries (according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,520) can be fixed to
the support material (7) for storage of electric energy generated
in the solar cells. Furthermore, and if necessary, planar and
flexible luminous diodes (OLED) or luminous diodes made of organic
macro-molecules (PLED) may be assigned as (minimum) energy
consumer. Their function is based on their self-illuminating
characteristics.
[0018] The opening (3) on the back of the sun shield (1) in the
pivoted-down position facing the vehicle interior accommodates--as
component unit (5)--a frame (5a) which is disengageable from the
opening (3) for accommodating a planar component (4) such as a
cosmetic mirror or a flat screen--if necessary placed behind--or
the like together with at least one thin-layer solar module with
planar and flexible luminous diodes (5b) and with a thin-layer
battery, e.g., a thin-film power condenser (according to U.S. Pat.
No. 6,104,597) in order to be able to use thin component unit (5)
as a flashlight outside the vehicle for a longer period of time. In
order not to waste the stored energy the luminous diodes (5b) of
the sun shied (1) are arranged disconnectably--alternatively
individually--for example, by closing the sun shield lid (5c). It
is left to the artisan, if the energy transmitting connection of
individual solar modules e.g. solar module groups are directed by
sectors to a thin-film battery or directed immediately to one or
more thin-film power condensers of which at least one is assigned
within the disengageable component unit (5). It does not matter
whether the support material (7) or (7') for the thin-film elements
(7a) can be extended and retracted on a roller (6) or placed in a
lamellar arrangement within the sun shield (1) since this component
unit (5) is independent and has contact with the solar modules on
the support material (7) or (7') by snapping it into the opening
(3). Especially for utilization of the disengageable component unit
5 as a flashlight, the plug junction (9) should be fixed at, for
example, the sun shield lid (5c) in order to release energy to any
energy consumers in and outside the vehicle, on the one hand, and,
on the other hand, is able to release energy to the vehicle battery
or extract energy from the vehicle battery in case at least the one
thin-film power condenser is not charged with sufficient energy for
utilization outside the vehicle.
[0019] The screen assigned within the component unit (5) can be
used for receiving data via GMS or GPS technology integrated within
the sun shield (1) and can be utilized in a taxi for short messages
as luminous advertising, as telematic and the like. A digital
CAD/CAM camera tapes pictures in order to enable a visual
communication between at least two people. OLED and/or PLED screens
with camera are UMTS-capable and result in a more rapid
communication.
[0020] A magnetic data transfer for connecting at least two systems
without electronic contact should be possible. If the space on the
screen of the component unit (5) is not sufficient, the uncoupled
digital switches can be transferred magnetically via a solar chip.
The magnetic fields are transmitted and received by tiny coils
placed within the chip.
[0021] Considering the artisan's wish for a "normal" look of the
sun shield (1), the folded-down sun shield facing the direction of
traffic can show a translucent foil within the solar module area
with a coloration not impeding the light transmittance as described
in DE 198 55 258 A 1.
[0022] The general electric switch system for a sun shield with
solar cells (solar modules) is known to the artisan. It contains
MPP (Maximum Power Point) control, return-current relay diode,
switch, energy storage, converter for step-up/step-down transformer
for a DC-motor, e.g., as converter for rotary current and
multiphase current, organic and polymer luminous diodes as energy
consumer as well as load resistance in general.
[0023] The respective selection of the individual switch elements
also depends on the amount of energy generated in the sun shield 1.
It depends on the number of sun shields in the vehicle as well as
the type and number of consumers, e.g., the disengageable component
unit (5), on the utilization of the sun shield (1) outside the
vehicle and whether the described thin-element technique should be
used with at least one sun shield (1), but additionally also at the
rear vehicle ceiling in order to increase energy generation for
additional consumers such as an electrolyzer or a fuel cell.
[0024] The described technology for a sun shield can be applied not
only to vehicles of all types but also--when respectively
reconfigured--for example, to trains, ships and airplanes. A
lamellar fuel cell, preferably a lamellar diaphragm fuel cell,
provides energy from a hydrogen cartridge supplementing the energy
storage with additional electricity when the electricity generated
from the solar cells is tight in case of maximum-demand times.
* * * * *